INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Correctional Officer positions are at a -7% growth rate, which is negative. With that said, there are currently 437,100 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to decrease by -29,900 to 407,200 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Correctional Officer jobs was $47,440 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $32,830, and the highest 10% more than $81,940.
Our conclusion? The Correctional Officer job market is facing competition due to decreasing demand.
Top correctional officer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a memorable experience section: Correctional officer resume edition
Checklist: Ways to make your experience section stand out
- Find balance: use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities and results;
- Highlight your achievements by adding numbers to them (e.g. instead of saying “achieved a steady increase in…”, say “achieved an X% increase in…”);
- Prove that you’re willing to work hard, both individually and in a team.
We’ve gathered the most impressive Correctional Officer experience sections from real Enhancv resumes. Check them out for some additional inspiration!
- Ensured safety and security of the jail by executing well-being checks.
- Assisted the Sergeant with staffing, incoming inmates, public questions and field questions from inmates
- Instructed CPR and defense classes for all KCSO employees.
- Maintaining the good order of the Centre through vigilant security
- Conducting thorough searches of cells and common areas
- Conducting both pat and strip searches of offenders
- Using OIMS to generate search numbers and complete searches
- Using OIMS to report serios incidents that have occured.
- Maintain safety, security and control of inmate population
- Resolving crisis and confrontational situations while maintaining professionalism
- Informational and detailed report writing
- Multi-tasking in a fast paced environment while setting priorities and meeting deadlines
- Managed off-site inmate work crew of eight to fifteen employees
- Management of off-site inmate work crew hours, jobs worked, billable hours per employee
- Designation of roles and responsibilities of off-site inmate work crew
- Developed excellent communication skills, written and verbal, through constant report writing, case noting, prisoner interaction and as a senior correctional officer assisting new staff
- Maintain safety and security
- Maintain duty of care to high risk prisoners following the relevant procedures
- Use high level security equipment to ensure good order of the institution
- As an elected staff representative, develop leadership abilities through some very difficult situations
- Negotiated outcomes with the department on local procedures and individual staff issues
- Represent staff at high level meetings and industrial tribunals
- Maintain order,discipline,and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, policies, and laws.
- Take,receive, or check periodic inmates counts. Maintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rule, procedures, and regulations.
- Supervise and direct the work of correctional officers to ensure the safe custody, discipline, and welfare of inmates.
- Resolve problems between inmates and supervise or perform searches of inmates or their quarters to locate contraband items.
- Monitor behavior of subordinates to ensure alert, courteous, and professional behavior toward inmates, parolees, fellow employees, visitors, and the public
- Complete administrative paperwork or supervise the preparation or maintenance of records, forms, or reports.
- Develop work or security procedures.
- Supervise activities such as searches, shakedowns, riot control, or institutional tours.
- Examine incoming or outgoing mail t ensure conformance with regulations.
- Conduct roll calls of correctional officers.
- Supervise the daily activities of inmates, ensuring applicable policies and rules are obeyed at all times as Acting Sergeant on unit
- Ensure the safety and security of inmates, including (un/armed) escorting between units, medical facilities, and other destinations
- Search inmates and their living quarters for contraband and prohibited materials
- Inspect cells for tampering and/or other evidence of rule violations
- Managing of staff by providing direction, training and performance evaluations
- Provide clear and concise reports and daily logs
- Ensure all staff and clients safety. (But most importantly yours Bai)
- Properly be able to frisk clients. (Hope you like being touched imma frisk you real good)
- Be able to talk and listen to your clients. (Will always be there for you when you need me)
- Assigned work, addressed complaints and recorded disciplinary action
- Operated heavy floor cleaning equipment (high & low speed buffer, floor scrubbers, etc.)
- Ordered chemicals and equipment needed to complete tasks
- Coordinated special projects (stripping and waxing tile, wood and concrete flooring)
- Generated bids for commercial contracts
- Solicited business by cold-calling and networking through previous business relationships
- Developed self-inspection checklists and monitored quality of work for custodians
- Offender Management
- Writing detailed and accurate incident reports
- Patrolling the interior and exterior of the facility
- Conducting inmate and cell searches
- Responding to crisis situations as outlined by policies and procedures
- Overseeing inmate activities including meals, classes, visitation, and recreation
- Special housing officer
- Inspect facilities to ensure that they meet security and safety standards.
- Escort and transport inmates.
- Search for Contraband Items.
- Enforce Rules and Keep Order.
- Report on Inmate Conduct.
- Responsible for care, custody, and control of inmates.
- Performed data entry of 200+ written incident reports
- Supervised work crews and responsibilities of 1000+ inmates
- Responded to 20+ emergency situations according to facility procedures
- Supervised and planned recreational activities of 200+ inmates
- Searched cells and recreational areas for contraband items once per day
- Used 2 databases to enter information about inmate behavior and security
- Supervised the care and custody of 200+ high-profile inmates
- Ensured 500+ prisoners follow prison rules and their daily routine
- Inspected conditions of locks, window bars, grills and gates of 500+ cells
- Monitored, supervised and inmate visitor traffic 3 days per week
- Supervise inmates in housing units and those segregated for administrative or punitive measures.
- Make periodic patrols of quarters and work areas and initiate counts of inmates at regular and irregular intervals.
- Maintain control and discipline including the use of physical restraint and restraining devices.
- Maintain a periodic patrol either inside or outside the institution to ensure the security and integrity of the institution.
- Responded to emergency situations and assisted in the preventions of assaults on other inmates and staff.
- Inspected a unit of cells and common areas while maintaining daily logs of shift and inmate activity.
- Received property from incoming inmates, provided receipts and inspected items for contraband
- Maintained appropriate control, supervision and wellbeing over those detained.
PRO TIP
In writing your Correctional Officer resume, you will no doubt want to list your previous duties - as you should. But steer clear of just listing your duties, instead of your achievements. Make your resume stand out by communicating what you have done, and not merely what the job needed you to do.
Action Verbs for Your Correctional Officer Resume
Recommended reads:
Correctional officer resume: Crafting a strong skills section
Do this if you want to make your skills section stand out.
- Check the job advert for keywords and add them to your skills section to pass ATS;
- List only skills that are relevant to the position to keep the hiring manager focused;
- Balance between hard, soft, and technical skills;
- Elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your Correctional Officer resume, e.g. the experience section or your resume’s summary.
Top skills for your correctional officer resume
Maintaining Order
Giving Clear Commands
Maintaining Respect
Strong Time Management
Information System
Microsoft Office
Reconciliation
CPR Certified
Urinalysis
Screening
Communication
Leardership
Empathy
Problem solving
Team work
Listening
Influencing
Mentoring and coaching
Motivating
Emotional intelligence
PRO TIP
Avoid getting sidetracked by Applicant tracking software by including a tech skills' section matching the job description and your own qualifications.
Recommended reads:
Correctional officer resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your correctional officer resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have policies about identifying information like photos on your Correctional Officer resume. Be sure to check all the relevant rules before submitting yours. If you’re in doubt, you can always try contacting the company’s HR department to ask for their policy.
How to write an inspiring correctional officer resume summary
Checklist: Writing a resume summary that makes you stand out
- Keep it short and use well-structured sentences;
- Mention your total years of experience in the field and your #1 achievement;
- Highlight your strengths and relevant skills;
- Add keywords from the company’s website or the job description.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Read the job description carefully and understand what the hiring company is exactly looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.
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Making the education section of your correctional officer resume stand out
Education section checklist for your correctional officer resume:
- List your highest education degree: including your major, year of graduation, and the institution you attended;
- Highlight the extracurricular activities that have helped you gain additional expertise;
- Share more about the certifications you’ve got, especially if they are relevant to the job position;
- Entry-level applicants: Mention relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your correctional officer resume
CISSO - Certified Information Systems Security Officer
Certification Exam Prep Course
Security Guard Training Course
Security Officer Training In Today's Job Market
Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)
Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) Certification Exam Prep Course
CCSO - Certified Cloud Security Officer
Prepare for the Mile2® Certified Cloud Security Officer Exam (CCSO) with this course.
How to become a CISO (Chief Information Security Officer)
8000+ enrollments | Learn the exact skills, qualifications and experience you need to become a CISO in any organization.
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PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Correctional officer resume: Formatting tips & tricks
Which came first: the hen or the egg? This question reminds us of the thing our resume experts hear most often in their job – which comes first: the content or the format? Well, we advise you to pick the format first and then go on with drafting your resume’s content.
And how do you choose a resume format? Well, based on your applicant profile. In general, there are three basic resume formats for you to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Let’s look at each one of them in more detail:
The reverse-chronological resume format is quite straightforward. Here, you describe all your previous jobs in a reverse-chronological form, meaning your latest job comes first. This resume format is great for people with lots of experience and skills who don’t have any career gaps.
If you are a recent graduate or don’t really have much experience in the industry you’re applying for, go for the functional skills-based resume format. This format focuses on skills and character traits, rather than experience. It makes the hiring manager realize you’re the perfect fit for the role without putting too much emphasis on your work history.
And if you’re looking for something a bit more intriguing and exciting, check out the hybrid resume format. It’s a combination of the reverse-chronological and functional skills-based formats, which makes it great for all types of job-seekers. The hybrid resume allows you to showcase both your professional experience and your skills, education, and additional qualifications. If you’re feeling creative, add a separate section about your typical day or life philosophy.
Our top style and layout resume format tips:
- Go for a standard 12p resume font;
- Choose 1-inch resume margins for a professional and easy-to-read feel;
- ry your best to fit your resume in a one-page template. If you’re a professional with over 10 years of relevant experience, having a two-page resume is also fine;
- Make sure to save your resume as PDF – this will help you avoid unwanted editing and formatting issues.
Read this: How to make your resume stand out
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections that’ll look good on your Correctional Officer resume
Do you want to move beyond the traditional skills, education, and experience section? Easy-peasy!
Just choose one or two additional sections to help recruiters get a fuller picture of who you are, both as a person and as a professional:
Adding a splash of creativity to your correctional officer resume
Boring resumes are no longer an option if you’re looking to impress recruiters.
And no matter whether you’re looking to give your old resume a new life or want to start building a new one from scratch, being at least moderately creative is always a good idea. Do this by adding a ‘favorite books’ section or even a pie chart of what your typical day looks like.
What makes a great correctional officer resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
